Black Gospel Archive & Listening Center
A State-of-the-Art Home for Black Gospel Research
Welcome to the Black Gospel Archive & Listening Center, the new home for the University Libraries' projects dedicated to research and preservation in Black sacred materials.
Book the BGA pod
To reserve our sound isolation pod for your research, please visit our booking page. If you do not have a Baylor University email address, you will need to contact us at digitalcollectionsinfo@baylor.edu to request a reservation.
Safeguarding a Legacy
Approximately half of the square footage of the BGA is dedicated to archival storage of materials in the BGMPP's physical collection. While outside loans still make up a majority of materials digitized for the project, the University Libraries hold a significant number of Black gospel albums, tape formats, and ephemera as well. The BGA provides secure, climate-controlled storage for approximately 10,000 LPs, with room for expansion in the future.
Engaging With the Soul of Gospel Music
The BGA is designed with researching scholars in mind, including an insulated sound booth to allow for full immersion in the recordings made available by the project. An electronic keyboard, access to printed gospel discographies, and aesthetic elements drawn from the project's amazing visuals blend together to provide a multisensory opportunity to discover the passion, artistry, and spirit behind American Black gospel music.
Listening Together
The third major purpose of the BGA is to provide a space to listen, not just to the materials from the BGMPP, but to each other, to new ideas, and to oral histories of those whose skill and soul created the music we work every day to preserve. The flexible furniture and welcoming environment are well-suited to hosting focused conversations between gospel scholars, preservationists, students, the Waco community, and anyone with an interest in discovering more about the unparalleled joy to be found in the BGMPP's holdings.
Envisioning the Future
If you would like to contribute monetarily to the success of the Black Gospel Archive & Listening Center, please consider a gift to the Black Gospel Music Fund. Or, if you'd like to loan or donate materials to the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program, please visit www.baylor.edu/library/gospel.